Bangkok: Thai authorities charged 70 Pakistani refugees for their illegal stay in the country despite fears that they would be persecuted if sent back to their home country, as police intensify crackdowns on illegal immigrants.

Emmanuel Shan, 37, one of the arrested refugees said the group consists mostly of Christian Pakistanis and some who are Ahmadi Muslims, two religious groups that risk facing persecution if they are deported back home.

An officer in charge of the case, who declined to be named, said a court on Thursday issued 4,000 baht (122 US dollars) fines and one-month suspended sentences to those charged with overstaying visas, while those who had entered illegally received a 8,000 baht (244 US dollars) fine and two-month suspended sentences.